Texts and tech: celebrating innovation in Reading

When Neil Papworth typed "Merry Christmas" on his PC at Sema Group in Reading back in December 1992 he was taking a major step in the tech revolution that would come to transform our lives - the message arrived on a mobile phone at Vodafone's Christmas Party and was the world's first ever text.

The Reading-born engineer has subsequently written about his experience everywhere from The Sun to The Times of India, starred in a Super Bowl ad and been an answer on iconic US gameshow Jeopardy. After working with Sema and its successors, he has since worked as a developer and designer in Singapore, Sydney and Seattle, before taking up his current role as a software architect in Montreal.

Reading Year of Culture joins with co-working hub Grow@GreenPark, for a special event featuring Neil reflecting on Reading's role in the global SMS phenomenon as well as a look at emerging technologies including 3D printing.